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I cannot believe 2 months ago TODAY I began this crazy adventure! South Africa has truly been such an incredible experience. I experienced a brief honeymoon stage followed by a long homesick stage. Now I am out of the homesick stage, but I still really do miss home. I am doing everything in my power to take advantage of every opportunity handed to me here in South Africa.

This week has been a huge learning and growing experience. I enjoyed my second week at my ministry site. We were a lot busier than last week and the weather was cooler. We got a lot done. I was frustrated because I felt underutilized again. I hate feeling like what I am doing does not matter. It bothers me when I spend the morning sitting down because there is nothing I can do. If I could take one lesson from that experience it would be to never let volunteers feel underutilized. If volunteers ask for more to do, give them more to do because they truly want to do more. If people feel underutilized it causes people to be devalued and they may not want to do ministry with that organization again.

On a better note, it has recently come to my attention how much I am learning here. Our campus pastor and his family from APU is here right now. It has been really good to get to know him and his family. It has helped me to see other people learning the same things we have been learning the past two months. I cannot believe how fast I have begun to forget the problems and issues here, it has been good to remember the needs of South Africa.

One of the things I am able to do in my service site is do home visits for people who are sick. I really enjoy my home visits and being able to hear people’s stories. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is such a huge problem with no end in sight. It is hard to see so many people suffer. I am learning to love people in a whole new way. I am learning to look past what kind of house people have and see people as children of God. This is a constant learning experience and I definitely do not have it mastered. I am just learning.

On Friday it was the National Day of Prayer for South Africa, it was incredible to have the opportunity to pray for this country. I have learned so much from these people; I am so thankful for this incredible experience

As much as I love life here in South Africa, I am counting down the days until I land at LAX.

Last week I found out that I am going to be an RA at school this fall! I am so excited! For all of you APU people I will be in The Village West! I am so excited for the incredible opportunity.

Here are some pics!!! :)